Honey Boo Boo's Mom Is Ruining Her Kids' Lives for a Good Cause

The Here Comes Honey Boo Boo clan has a hit TV show on their hands and a big raise from TLC to come. So what is Mama June Shannon going to do with all that money? Improve her kids' lives? Nah, she's putting the cash away ... for the future.

Wait, what?

June and Honey Boo Boo herself, little Alana Thompson, showed up on Jimmy Kimmel this week where the 7-year-old made her now viral announcement that she wants to see President Obama re-elected. But while everyone's talking about whether kids should get involved in politics, June's big announcement has been seriously ignored.

I know what's best for my kids. That's why I chose to put money in the trust funds, because this journey may last six months or it might last a year, but I don't want 10 years down the road Alana or any of the kids to be thinking, 'Oh my God, I have nothing to show for it.' So I wanted to put it in trust funds very equally for all the kids. So most of the money is there, and the other money goes to our community outreach program ... that we raise for the anti-bullying.

On the one hand, I want to commend her. We need more savers in this country. We need more parents TEACHING their kids to save in this country.

I was raised by savers, and I know I struggle with my own 7-year-old when she gets some tooth fairy or birthday money. I'm trying to teach her that some things aren't worth blowing your money on. I'm trying to encourage her to put money in her piggybank for a rainy day, or at least that Xbox game she really wants.

On the other hand, I can't help looking at how Alana and her sisters live. They go to the auctions to buy recently expired food. They eat roadkill for crying out loud!! Wouldn't it be prudent for June to take a portion of the Honey Boo Boo salary she's setting aside and use them now? At least give her kids some decent -- aka healthy -- meals?

It's nice to save for a rainy day or you know, college, but kids only get one start in life. You have just once chance to get it right. If you have to skimp on the important things like fresh vegetables because they're expensive, you have no business squirreling money away for your kids' future.

Do you think it's OK for June to save all the Here Comes Honey Boo Boo money instead of using it on her kids now? What would you do if you were her?